Device for producing positive and negative pressures



April 28, 1959 I J. B. BIEDERMAN 3,

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE PRESSURES Filed May 14, 1956IN V EN TOR.

g '7, Jose/ H B. B/EDERMA/V United States Patent DEVICE FOR PRODUCINGPosmvE AND NEGATIVE PRESSURES Joseph B. Biedermau, Cincinnati, OhioApplication May 14, 1956, Serial No. 584,640

Claims. (Cl. 128-198) This invention relates to a device for producingpositive and negative pressures inside body openings and for supplyingor pumping a liquid into a body opening.

An object of this invention is to provide a small and inexpensive devicewhich a person can handle readily to produce positive and negativepressures inside body openings such as the nostril openings to, permitfluid to enter a body cavity in communication with the body opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container which canbe squeezed to give a positive pressure and which, when released,produces a negative pressure, together with a head member for closingthe container which is formed of thin-walled, yieldable and resilientmaterial which can conform to the shape of the body opening to form aseal at the body openings.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this typein which a tube extends from the tip of the head member into liquid inthe container in which the tube is connected to the tip of the headmember by a skirt member inside the head member which is spaced from theside Walls of the head member so that the side walls can readily bedeformed to follow the contours of the body opening without interferingwith the skirt or the tube.

A further objectof this invention is to provide a device of this typehaving a cap provided with a pair of portions which can be inserted intoboth nostril openings at the same time to provide positive and negativepressures inside the sinus cavities and cause flow of fluid into thesinus cavities.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertainsfrom the following detailed description, and the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a device constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of this invention, with a closure cap inplace thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on the line IIII in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a person holding the device;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section showing the upper portion of adevice constructed in accordance with another embodiment of thisinvention;

"-Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on the line V-V in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevationshowing a device constructed in accordance with a further embodiment ofthis invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6.

In the following detailed description, and the drawing, like referencecharacters indicate like parts.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1-3 inclusive includes a main or bottleportion 10 having an open mouth 12. The bottle portion is formed ofyieldable material such as polyethylene, of the type commonly used inso-called squeeze bottles. The open mouth of the bottle por- 2,883,983Patented Apr. 28, 1959 ice tion 10 is closed by a head member 13 havinga skirt 14. which fits inside the neck of the bottle portion. A shoulder16 on the skirt engages the mouth of the bottle. The upper end of thehead member includes a dome-shaped outer wall 17 provided with a centralopening 18. The

wardly into liquid 22 in the bottle portion, which may containappropriate medication.

The head member may be formed of resilient, yield able material, such aspolyethylene. The dome-shaped outer wall of the head member issubstantially thinner than the wall of the bottle portion, and the outerwall of the head portion can conform to the shape of the inside of abody opening, such as that of a nostril 24, as shown in Fig. 3. When thehead portion is inserted into the nostril, it forms a substantial sealat the nostril. As shown in Fig. 1, the skirt 19 is spaced from theouter wall of the head portion so that the skirt does not interferewit-h yielding or flexing of the outer wall of the head member when itengages the interior of the nostril opening. The wall of the head membermay be relato drive a portion of the liquid 22 into the nose. Whenaportion of the liquid has been pumped or forced into the nose, thepressure on the bottle portion may be released to induce a negativepressure or suction on the interior of the nostril and body cavities,such as sinuses, in connection therewith. Thereafter, the bottle portioncan be squeezed again to induce a positive pressure inside the nose tocause the liquid to be drawn into the sinuses.

When the device is not in use, the head member and the upper end of thebottle portion are closed and covered by a hollow cap 25. As shown, thelower end of the cap 25 is threaded to the bottle to hold the cap inplace. As shown, the extreme diameter of the head member is less thanthat of the threaded portion of the cap and bottle portions so that thecap can be readily mounted without deforming. The cap may be made ofpolyethylene plastic or other suitable material. As shown in Fig. 1, alug 26 mounted in the center of the cap engages the head member at theedges of the opening 18 to close and seal the opening. The cap may beformed of polyethylene plastic material and may be slightly stretchedwhen in place to hold the lug 26 firmly in engagement with the headmember.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a device which is generally similar to thatshown in Figs. 1-3 inclusive, except that the device of Figs. 4 and 5includes a head member 27- having an outer wall 28, which, as shown inFig. 5, is generally elliptical in shape so that it can readily conformto the interior of a body opening such as a nostril. In other details,the device of Figs. 4 and 5 may be similar to that already described.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a device which includes a tions 33 and 34 canbe inserted into both nostrils of a person to seal or close off both thenostrils at one time. Inside portion 33 is provided a skirt 36, andinside portion.34 is provided a skirt 37.. The skirts snrroundopenings38 and 39, respectively. A. Y-shaped tube 11 terminates at. its upperend in branches 42 and 43 which are received inside skirts 36 and 37,respectively.

When the bottle portion 31 is squeezed, liquid may be propelled throughthe tube 41 to be discharged through,

both openings 38 and 39 at the same time. When the portions 33 and 34are disposed in the nostril openings, squeezing of the bottle portion 31causes a positive pressure inside the nose. Then, when pressure on thebottle portion 31 is released, a negative pressure or suction is inducedinside the nose to reduce the pressure inside the sinuses. Then, whenthe bottle portion is squeezed again, the pressure permits the liquid topenetrate into the sinus cavities.

The device of Figs. 6 and. 7 is closed. by a cap 44 when not in use. Thecap 44 has a skirt portion 46 threaded to the bottle portion 31. Anannular rib 47 on the interior of the cap 44 engages and seals theopenings 38 and 39. The cap 44, the bottle portion 31, and the headmember 32 may all be formed of polyethylene plastic material. When thedevice is capped, the rib 47 firmly engages the dome-shaped portions ofthe head member and closes the openings thereof.

The devices described above and illustrated in the drawings, have beendescribed particularly with relation to use in connection withpenetration of medication into the sinuses in communication with nostrilopenings. However, the device of Figs. 1-5 inclusive may also be used inconnection with other body openings, such as the ear opening, and otheropenings, wherein it may be desirable to cause a positive and negativepressure.

The devices illustrated in the drawing and described above are subjectto structural modification, without departing from the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A device for inducing positive and negative pressures inside a bodyopening which comprises a hollow bottle portion of resilient, yieldablematerial having an open mouth, a hollow head member of resilientyieldable material mounted in said open mouth, the bottle portion andthe head member being of the same material, said head member including askirt received inside the neck of the bottle portion, a dome-shapedouter wall extending upwardly from the skirt, there being an opening inthe upper portion of the outer wall, the outer Wall being adapted toyield and conform to the contours of the body opening, the outer wall ofthe head member being substantially thinner than the wall of the bottleportion, whereby the outer wall of the head member is more readilyyieldable than the wall of the bottle portion, and a second skirtmounted on the interior of the outer Wall surrounding the opening, and atube attached to the second skirt and extending downwardly from thedome-shaped outer wall into liquid in the bottle portion, the wall ofthe bottle portion being deformable inwardly when the head member isinserted into the body opening in sealing relation therewith to induce apositive pressure in the body opening, the bottle portion, whenreleased, tending to return to its undeformed position to induce anegative pressure in the body opening.

2. A device for inducing positive and negative pressures inside a'bodyopening which comprises a hollow bottle portion of resilient, yieldablematerial having an open mouth, a hollow head member of resilient,yieldable material mounted in said open mouth, the bottle portion andthe head member being of the same material, said head member including askirt received inside the neck of the bottle portion, an annularshoulder on said skirt overlying the mouth of the bottle portion, adome-shaped outer wall extending upwardly from the skirt, there being anopening in the upper portion of the outer wall, the outer wall beingsubstantially thinner than the wall of the bottle portion and beingadapted to yield and conform to the contours of the body opening, and asecond skirt mounted on the interior of the outer wall surrounding theopening, there being a space between the outer wall and said secondskirt, a tube attached to the second skirt and extending downwardly fromthe dome-shaped outer wall into liquid in the bottle portion, therebeing a threaded portion on the exterior of the neck of the bottleportion, the, extreme diameter of the head member being less than thatof the threaded portion of the neck, and, a hollow cap removably mountedon the bottle portion and overlying the head member, there being athreaded portion of the cap releasably engaging the threads of thebottle portion, and an inwardly directed projection on the interior ofthe cap engageable with the upper portion of the outer wall to close theopen ing thereof.

3. A device for inducing positive and negative pressures inside a bodyopening which comprises a hollow bottle portion of resilient, yieldablematerial, a hollow head member of resilient, yieldable material mountedon, Said bottle portion, said head member including an outer wallextending upwardly from the bottle portion, there being two dome-shapedportions in said outer wall sufficiently spaced to be inserted in bothnostrils, there being an opening in the upper portion of each of thedome-shaped portions, the outer wall being adapted to yield andcoIIJfQIJm to the contours of the nostrils, and a skirt mounted on theinterior of each of the dome-shaped portions; surrounding the openingthereof, a Y-shaped tube inside the head member and the bottle port-ionhaving a branch attached to each skirt and a lower branch extending downwardly into liquid in the bottle portion, the wall of th bottle portionbeing deformable inwardly when the dome shaped portions are insertedinto. the nostrils in sealing relation therewith to induce a positivepressure i fiide the nose, the bottle portion, when released, tending toreturn to its undeformed position to induce a negative pres sure in thebody opening.

4. A device for inducing positive and negative pressures inside a bodyopening which comprises a hollow bottle portion of resilient yieldablematerial having an open mouth, a hollow head member of resilientyieldable material mounted in said open mouth, the bottle portion andthe head member being of the same material, said head member includingan outer wall extending upwardly from the bottle portion, there beingtwo dome-shaped portions in said outer wall sufiiciently spaced to beinserted in both nostrils, there being an opening in the upper portionof each of the dome-shaped portions, the outer wall being adapted toyield and con-form to the contours of the nostrils, a skirt member onthe interior of each of the dome-shaped portions surrounding the openingthereof, tube means attached to each skirt member in communication withthe opening associated therewith and extending downwardly therefrominside the head member and the bottle portion, the wall of the bottleportion being deformable inwardly when the dome-shaped portions areinserted into the nostrils in sealing relation therewith to induce apositive pressure inside the nose, the bottle portion, when released,tending to return to its undeformed position to induce a negativepressure inside the nose, and a hollow cap removably mounted on thebottle portion and overlying the head member, said cap having a rib re?leasably engaging the upper portions of the dome-shaped portions toclose the openings thereof.

5. A device for inducing positive and negative pressures inside a bodyopening which comprises a hollow bottle portion of resilient yieldablematerial having an open mouth, a hollow head member of resilientyieldable ma? terial mounted in said open mouth, the bottle portion andthe head member being of the same material, said head member includingan outer wall extending upwardly from the bottle portion, there beingtwo dome-shaped portions in said outer wall sufliciently spaced to beinserted in both nostrils, there being an opening in the upper portionof each of the dome-shaped portions, the outer wall being adapted toyield and conform to the contours of the nostrils, a skirt membermounted on the interior of each of the dome-shaped port-ions surroundingthe opening thereof, tube means attached to each skirt member incommunication with the opening associated therewith and extendingdownwardly therefrom inside the head member 10 and the bottle portion,the wall of the bottle portion being deformable inwardly when thedome-shaped portions are inserted into the nostrils in sealing relationtherewith to induce a positive pressure inside the nose, the bottleportion, when released, tending to return to its undeformed position toinduce a negative pressure inside the nose,

and a hollow cap removably mounted on the bottle portion and overlyingthe head member, there being threads on the cap and threads on thebottle portion in releasable engagement, the dome-shaped portions beinguniformly radially spaced from the axes of said threads, and an annularrib on the cap coaxial with the threads and releasably engaging theupper sections of the dome-shaped portions to close the openingsthereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS474,035 Vantwoud May 3, 1892 2,546,214 Curry Mar. 27, 1951 15 2,672,141Filger Mar. 16, 1954 2,741,402 Sayre Apr. 10, 1956

